BANKSY

Banksy is the pseudonym of a "guerrilla" street artist known for his controversial, and often politically themed, stencilled pieces.

“We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves.”

Banksy, a street artist whose identity remains unknown, was born in Bristol, England. He rose to prominence for his provocative stencilled pieces in the late 1990s. Banksy is the subject of a 2010 documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop, which examines the relationship between commercial and street art.

Other pieces have drawn attention for their edgy themes or the boldness of their execution. Banksy's work on the West Bank barrier, between Israel and Palestine, received significant media attention in 2005. He is also known for his use of copyrighted material and subversion of classic images. An example of this is Banksy's version of Monet's famous series of water lilies paintings, adapted by Banksy to include drifting trash and debris.